The Colorado Avalanche don’t figure to be overly active on the trade market this season. But they can’t afford to sit by idly, either. The biggest move the Avalanche can make is actually keeping one of their own in the fold.
That player is Victor Olofsson. His seven goals and 19 points in 35 games this season have been a fantastic addition to the Avalanche’s high-powered offense. He’s given Colorado just the sort of depth player it needed last season.
The 30-year-old signed a one-year contract this past summer. The deal seemed like a show-me deal for both sides. But thus far, the contract looks really good. Olofsson’s $1.575 million cap hit is a bargain for a middle-six player on pace to chip in about 16 to 20 goals.
Of course, Olofsson hasn’t been lighting the world on fire. That’s Nathan MacKinnon’s job. But finding good, reliable depth players these days, at affordable price points, is hardly easy. Then again, Olofsson wasn’t an unknown commodity.
The former seventh-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres scored 15 goals last season with the Vegas Golden Knights in 56 games. However, Vegas chose to pass on him this past offseason. That move was the Avalanche’s gain.
It’s worth pointing out that Olofsson is a three-time 20-goal scorer. So, there’s potential for Olofsson to continue building on his success.
Avalanche could get Olofsson on team-friendly deal
The concern here would be for Olofsson to price himself out of Colorado. That’s certainly a risk the Avalanche face. Olofsson could opt for free agency, potentially cashing in on a team that’s desperate for depth scoring.
But then again, why fix something if it isn’t broken? Olofsson and the Avalanche have been a good match. So, it would make sense for the two sides to remain together. A team-friendly deal might be in the works, especially if the Avalanche commit to a multi-year contract.
Perhaps a deal in the vicinity of three years could entice Olofsson to give the Avalanche a break. Naturally, Olofsson’s next deal would come with a raise. Perhaps something more along the lines of a $2 to $2.5 million AAV could get the ball rolling.
Ultimately, the Avalanche would be hard-pressed to find a better offensive depth option than Olofsson. The free-agent market next summer doesn’t figure to be a strong one. So, it would make sense for the two sides to remain together for the next couple of seasons.
Since Olofsson’s been a good fit, why mess that up?